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Wayde Sims, a junior forward and Baton Rouge native, was taken to a hospital with an apparent gunshot wound shortly after midnight and later died due to his injury, according to a news release from the Baton Rouge police department. He was 20 years old.

Police say the shooting occurred at approximately 12:25 a.m. on a street just south of Southern University, which is located north of downtown Baton Rouge near a turn in the Mississippi River. The investigation, which is ongoing, classifies Sims' death as a homicide.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade said in a press conference that he "got the call that you never want to get" early Friday morning and rushed to the hospital, where he was informed of Sims' death. He informed the team at 6:30 a.m., when the Tigers had a previously-scheduled workout.

"We're all still devastated and in shock about everything," Wade told reporters, "but we're going to support Wayde's family and we're going to support our guys and slowly move forward from this."

"It is an absolute tragedy," added LSU athletic director Joe Alleva.

Sims, a 6-6 forward and kinesiology major, started 10 games for LSU last year, averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds. He grew up in Baton Rouge and was named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year following his junior season at University High School. His father, Wayne, also played basketball at LSU.

The university said Friday morning that it has made counselors available to the LSU basketball team and others who knew Sims.

"That's what makes it so tough for all of us and our team as well: Everybody liked him," Wade told reporters. "Anybody he came in contact with just loved him, loved his personality. He was just a blast to be around at all times."